Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson has emerged as the shock leader in the race to replace Roy Hodgson should the Fulham boss take over at Liverpool.

After his European escapades with the Cottagers last season Hodgson has jumped to the top of the wish list for the Liverpool hierarchy who are on the lookout for a replacement for Rafa Benitez.

Hot seat: Sven Goran Eriksson has a contract with the Ivory Coast until after the World Cup

Meanwhile Eriksson, who is currently in South Africa in temporary charge of the Ivory Coast, has been out of club management since leaving Manchester City in 2008.

Stepping up: Roy Hodgson is set to join Liverpool as replacement for Rafa Benitez

The Swede left his post as Notts Country director of football earlier this year and is desperate to return to England to prove himself as he once did in Italy.

Eriksson boasts higher credentials than the other candidates already being lined up by Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.

Mark Hughes and Tony Mowbray are without a trophy in their relatively nascent managerial careers, compared with Eriksson who has won league titles in Italy and Portugal as well as countless domestic cups.

Eriksson's appointment would be a major coup for Fulham and would signal their intent to build on the Europa League runners-up spot they achieved last season.

The 62-year-old's wage demands could yet prove a sticking point but Al Fayed is confident the exciting project already in motion will be enough to sway the Swede.